Music is essential to the San Rocco
Festa, an annual heritage and cultural festival in Aliquippa that traces its roots to the mountaintop village of Patricia, Italy. The festival also has a long tradition of including former IUP musicians in the entertainment. Joe Sullivan ’63 and Ron
Romeo ’65 began playing with the San Rocco Festa Band in the mid-1950s. Also participating in August 2017, during the 92nd weekend celebration of Mass, ethnic food, heritage, and community band performances, were Mike Poff Sr. ’67, M’72, Jim Rizzo ’72, Dave DiPetro ’74, Ron Steffanina ’76, Russ “Norm” Couch ’90, and Mike Poff Jr. ’97. Ron
Steffanina welcomes more IUP musicians to join in the tradition. Anyone interested should send e-mail to sanroccofestaband@gmail.com.